The artwork titled “Saint Nicholas,” created by an artist of the Orthodox Icons around c.1100 – c.1200, is a tempera painting on wood. It exemplifies the Novgorod school of icon painting and measures 145 x 94 cm. The genre is best categorized as an icon, and it belongs to a series dedicated to Saints. This piece is part of the collection at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.
The artwork portrays Saint Nicholas with a sense of spiritual solemnity and reverence. The saint is depicted with a halo, symbolizing his sanctity, and he is adorned with ecclesiastical vestments, including a pallium adorned with crosses. His right hand is raised in a gesture of blessing while his left holds a book, likely the Gospels, indicating his role as a teacher and protector of the faith. The background of the icon is rendered in traditional gold leaf, symbolizing the divine light. Surrounding the central figure are smaller images of saints, emphasizing the interconnectedness within the hagiographic tradition. The painting’s age and craftsmanship denote a significant period in Byzantine and Russian iconography, reflecting the spiritual and artistic heritage of the Novgorod school.
